     (add-to-menubar frame menu-bar menu-entries-from-filler)
     (.validate frame)))
 
+; shortcuts for menu creating
+(def --- {})
+(def === (Box/createHorizontalGlue))
+
 (def *main-menu* {:name "Main" :content [{:name "Add Menu" ; just for fun
 					  :handler (fn [frame _]
 						     (add-menus frame
 								[{:name "?" :content []}]))}
-					 {}
+					 ---
 					 {:name "Quit"
 					  :handler (fn [frame _] (.dispose frame))}]})
 
 (def *help-menu* {:name "Help" :content []})
 
-(def *standard-menus* [*main-menu* (Box/createHorizontalGlue) *help-menu*])
+(def *standard-menus* [*main-menu* === *help-menu*])
 
 
 ;;; Tool Bar

      (.setName (:name icon-hash))
      (add-handler frame (:handler icon-hash))
      (.setToolTipText (:name icon-hash)))
    (let [icon (:icon icon-hash)]
      (if (and icon (.exists (File. icon)))
	(.setIcon button (ImageIcon. icon))
	(.setIcon button (ImageIcon. *default-icon*))))
    button))

(defn add-to-toolbar [frame toolbar icons]

(defn get-toolbar [frame]
  (get-component frame #(= (class %) JToolBar)))

(def *default-icon* (File. "images/default.jpg"))
(def *icon-size* 17)

(defn make-icon [frame icon-hash]
  (let [button (JButton.)]
